Cable tension adjusting means for a brake cable operating lever

Abstract

A brake cable operating lever is disclosed including a device for adjusting the cable tension which is produced when the operating lever is in the brake-on position, characterized in that the rotary tension adjusting screw (36) which extends axially of the operating lever includes intermediate its ends an annular collar portion (36a) that is rotatably supported by an abutment shoulder (20f) on the operating lever (20), whereby the apparatus remains operable even if the manual operating knob (38) were to be removed from the screw member. An internal friction producing device (40) is provided for restricting rotation of the screw member about its axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Brake operating apparatus for applying tension to a parking brake cable for motor vehicles or the like, comprising (a) stationary mounting plate means (6) adapted for connection with a frame of the vehicle;   (b) cable connecting means (16) connected for sliding movement axially of said mounting plate means, said cable connecting means being adapted for connection with one end of the parking brake cable;   (c) operating lever means (20) pivotally connected at one end with said mounting plate means for pivotal displacement between brake-on and brake-off positions, respectively, said operating lever means including at its other end a longitudinally extending tubular portion (20d);   (d) a connecting link (28) pivotally connected at one end with said cable connecting means;   (e) adjustable pivot means (30) pivotally connecting the other end of said connecting link with said operating lever means, said adjustable pivot means being mounted adjacent the pivot axis of said lever means for displacement axially of said lever means; and   (d) cable tension adjusting means for displacing said adjustable pivot means aially of said operating lever means, whereby the brake cable tension, when the brake cable is in the brake-on position, is a function of the distance between said adjustable pivot means and the pivotal connection between said operating lever and said mounting plate means, said adjusting means including (1) a rotary screw member (36) extending axially within the tubular portion of said operating lever means, said screw member including intermediate its ends an annular collar portion (36a) the outer diameter of which corresponds generally with the inner diameter of said operating lever tubular portion;   (2) means defining an abutment shoulder (20f) within said tubular portion of said operating lever means for rotatably supporting said collar portion and said screw member against axial displacement in the direction of the pivot axis of said lever means;   (3) connecting means threadably connecting said adjustable pivot means with one end of said screw member;   (4) knob means (38) containing at one end a bore, said knob means being rotatably mounted on said operating lever with the tubular portion thereof rotatably extending within said bore, said knob means being non-rotatably connected with the other end of said screw member for rotating the same to displace said adjustable pivot means axially of said operating lever means, whereby the brake cable operating means remains functional even upon removal of the knob means from said screw member; and   (5) internal friction means for restricting rotation of said screw member relative to said operating lever means.     
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said internal friction means includes a spring washer arranged concentrically about said screw member. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said internal friction means includes a resilient compressed O-ring arranged concentrically about said screw member. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including a first washer member arranged concentrically about said screw member intermediate said abutment shoulder and said screw member collar portion. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for tensioning a parking brake cable for motor vehicles or the like, comprising (a) stationary mounting plate means adapted for connection with a frame of the vehicle;   (b) cable connecting means connected for sliding movement axially of said mounting plate means, said cable connecting means being adapted for connection with one end of the parking brake cable;   (c) operating lever means pivotally connected at one end with said mounting plate means for pivotal displacement between brake-on and brake-off positions, respectively, said operating lever means including at its other end a longitudinally extending tubular portion the free end of which terminates in a radially inwardly directed wall portion;   (d) a connecting link pivotally connected at one end with said cable connecting means;   (e) adjustable pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of said connecting link with said operating lever means, said adjustable pivot means being mounted adjacent the pivot axis of said lever means for displacement axially of said lever means; and   (d) cable tension adjusting means for displacing said adjustable pivot means axially of said operating lever means, whereby the brake cable tension, when the brake cable is in the brake-on position, is a function of the distance between said adjustable pivot means and the pivotal connection between said operating lever and said mounting plate means, said adjusting means including (1) a rotary screw member arranged within said tubular portion of, and extending axially of said operating lever means, said screw member including intermediate its ends an annular collar portion;   (2) means defining an abutment shoulder on said tubular portion for rotatably supporting said collar portion and said screw member against axial displacement in the direction of the pivot axis of said lever means;   (3) first and second washer means arranged concentrically on said screw member, said first washer means being between said screw collar portion and said abutment shoulder means and said second washer means being between said radially inwardly directed wall portion and said screw collar portion;   (4) connecting means threadedly connecting said adjustable pivot means with one end of said screw member;   (5) knob means containing at one end a bore, said knob means being rotatably mounted on said operating lever with the tubular portion thereof rotatably extending within said bore, said knob means being non-rotatably connected with the other end of said screw member for rotating the same to displace said adjustable pivot means axially of said operating lever means, and   (6) internal friction means for restricting rotation of said screw member relative to said operating lever means, whereby the brake cable operating means remains functional even upon removal of the knob means from said screw member.     
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said internal friction means comprises a spring washer mounted concentrically about said screw member in axially compressed relation intermediate said screw member collar portion and one of said washers. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said internal friction means comprises a resilient O-ring mounted concentrically about said screw member in axially compressed relation intermediate said screw member collar portion and one of said washers. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of said washers comprises a cup-shaped washer having an annular flange portion that extends concentrically about said collar portion, the end extremity of said annular flange portion being in abutting engagement with the other washer member, thereby to prevent binding of said cable tension adjusting means. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said internal friction means includes a spring washer mounted concentrically about said screw member in axially compressed relation between said screw member collar portion and one of said washers. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said internal friction means includes a resilient O-ring mounted concentrically about said screw member in axially compressed relation between said screw member collar portion and one of said washers. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said internal friction means includes a resilient O-ring arranged concentrically about said screw member collar portion in radially inwardly compressed relation between said collar portion and the inner circumferential surface of the flange portion of said cup-shaped washer. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said O-ring is mounted within an annular groove contained in the outer circumference of said collar portion. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said O-ring is mounted within an annular relieved surface defined within one end of said collar portion.